Today, we're going to talk about lithium. First, we'll talk about its chemical properties. Then we'll look at where it's found and the mining process to extract lithium from the ground.

After that, we'll look at some applications where lithium plays a significant role and then we'll finish up by looking at the market size and demand for lithium.

Today, we're going to talk about lithium.

First we'll talk about its chemical properties.

Then we'll look at where it's found and the mining process to

extract lithium from the ground.

After that we'll look at some applications where lithium plays a significant role

and then we'll finish up by looking at the market size and demand for lithium.

Lithium 101

Lithium is a soft metal that is highly reactive.

The atomic number of lithium is 3, composed of three protons,

four neutrons and three electrons.

Its atomic mass is 6.941 grams per molecule.

Lithium has one stable isotope and forms, ionic bonds with other elements,

such as oxygen, nitrogen, and fluorine.

Lithium does not occur as a metal in nature, but is found combined in

small amounts in nearly all igneous rocks and in ores from igneous rocks

and salts from mineral springs.

Lithium extraction is done from various sources such as salt

flat brines, lithium-bearing ores and clay or ore deposits.

The most common extraction method is through evaporation and chemical

recovery from salt flat brines.

This process can take anywhere from several months to a few years.

Lithium processing plants are water plants that refine a high-grade

lithium output using water that can be returned and reused.

The steps generally include drilling down through the crust and then

pumping the brine up to the surface into evaporation pools where it's

left for an extended period of time.

After this, the lithium is extracted from the brine and further processed

to produce a high grade product.

In terms of applications for lithium, lithium has a wide range of traditional

applications in industry, including heat resistant glass and ceramics, lithium

grease, lubricants, and flux additives for iron steel and aluminum production.

Lithium is used in battery storage in advanced technologies where

exciting developments make it a highly sought after mineral.

In glass and ceramics, lithium is used to increase the glass melt rate, lower

viscosity, lower melts temperature, reduce corrosion rates, inshore glass

erode slowly, improve physical properties and provide enamel and glaze coverings.

In lithium grease, lubrication lithium grease is a popular medium to heavy

duty multi-purpose grease, used to provide long lasting protection

against oxidation, corrosion, extreme temperatures and wear and tear.

It's also characterized by its excellent lubrication, water resistance and ability

to withstand high pressure and shock.

Lithium flux additive is an additive to continuous casting, mold flux

slags, where it increases fluidity.

It's also used in fluxes with integrated additives, such as lithium borates

and additives with guaranteed purity.

Additionally, lithium is used in electrolytes to homogenize lithium plus

distribution and lithium deposition for high energy, lithium metal batteries.

On the battery side lithium-ion batteries are rechargeable batteries

that use the reversible reduction of lithium ions to store energy.

Commonly found in portable electronic devices, such as smartphones and

laptops, they have advantages over other nickel-cadmium batteries.

The most common combination used in lithium-ion batteries is that

of lithium and cobalt oxide, (cathode) and graphite (anode).

There are six main types of lithium batteries.

Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide (NMC), Lithium Nickel Cobalt

Aluminum Oxide (NCA), Lithium Manganese Oxide (LMO), Lithium Iron Phosphate

(LFP), Lithium Cobalt Oxide (LCO) and lithium titanate oxide (LTO).

Next generation lithium applications are expected to include advanced

lithium ion batteries, lithium sulfur batteries and solid state batteries.

These technologies offer a range of improvements over conventional lithium-ion

batteries, such as higher energy density, longer life, and the ability

to eliminate battery fire concerns.

Advanced lithium-ion batteries are expected to be deployed before the

first-generation of solid state batteries and will be ideal for use in applications

such as energy storage systems.

Lithium sulfur batteries have been praised for their high

energy density and long life.

While solid state batteries could represent the next major

innovation in battery technology.

For electric vehicle applications, current conventional lithium-ion

technology is likely to remain the standard for some time due to its high

operating voltages and energy efficiency.

However new battery technology breakthroughs are happening rapidly.

And advanced new batteries are already on the market.

Other next generation materials being explored include enabling

anion redox chemistries such as Li-air, Li-sulphur, and beyond.

Research is also being conducted on novel LIB electrode materials, electrolyte

oxidation pathways in lithium ion batteries, advanced cathode materials

for lithium ion batteries, and Esther based electrolytes for fast charging

of energy dense lithium-ion batteries.

Finally, let's take a look at the market size of lithium.

According to Grandview Research, the global lithium market size was

valued at $6.83 billion in 2021 and is expected to expand at a compound annual

growth rate of 12% from 2022 to 2030.

Expert market research reports that the global lithium compound market

size reached a volume of 300,000 tons in 2020, and this is expected

to grow at a CAGR of seven and a half percent between 2021 and 2023.

And that's all from borates.today and our introduction to lithium 101.

For much more information on lithium and boron and strategic

minerals, please go to our website.

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